A Holy Woman

November 3, 2014

"Women Washing Clothes by the Stream" by Daniel Ridgway Knight

Yesterday in our Relief Society meeting (you can read more about Relief Society here), our teacher told us about how four years ago she, and 60 other women in her area who are members of our church, were challenged to pick one thing they do each and every day, and for three days do that thing as they believed a "Holy Woman" would do it.  

She picked laundry.  Laundry, she said, is one of those things that drives her crazy as it's never done (unless you do it laundry naked, which is so not the mental picture we want here).

So that's what she did. She thought about how laundry could possibly fit into being a "Holy Woman."  What she came up with was; being of service, taking care of the gifts we're given, keeping a clean and welcoming home, and many others. And the way she has looked at everything has changed since.  That experience changed every part of her life.

We all discussed what being a "Holy Woman" would entail, and in our way of thinking, it means living and incorporating the Gospel of Jesus Christ into every part of our lives, no matter how menial the task we think it is.

That has been on my mind since.  Yesterday afternoon as I went to the kitchen to get supper ready I thought how I normally don't like to be in the kitchen (another topic for another time), but the lesson on being a "Holy Woman" was echoing in my mind.  That changed my whole thought process as I was emptying (and refilling) the dishwasher, hand washing other things, prepping the potatoes, and generally straightening up the kitchen.  It made the experience very different - no minor frustration for what I sometimes perceive as "drudgery," no "how can I do just the minimum."  I actually WANTED to do these tasks well, and to be sure I could make my husband and our guests as comfortable as I possibly could.  

Now I've never been much on homekeeping (although I'm a homebody and love being at home) - I'm the one that was out working for money to support my horse habit when I was 10.  Yes, my sainted Mom did everything she could to train us all up right by having us share in the KP duty, cleaning the house, keeping our rooms clean, and all.  Of course she made it look easy as our house was always spotless (in spite of her six "little chicks'" attempts at cleaning).  But it never sunk in for me.  I would rather muck out horse stalls and care for sweaty, drooling, hyper polo ponies.

So I really need to find that paradigm change when it comes to keeping a home.  A home is supposed to be an extension of heaven - that safe, clean, warm place we can come to be sheltered from the world.  I want that.  I want my husband and family to feel that.  I want to be able to invite people to visit without dreading it.  We are incredibly blessed to have what we do, and I want to show my appreciation.

Maybe this is it.  Maybe remembering I am a Daughter of Heavenly Parents, and trying to do everything as a "Holy Woman" will help me. 

There is plenty to do around here so I'd better get to it.

#lds  #reliefsociety #mormon #holywoman